Solon D. Hodsdon, 85 years old, a pioneer resident of this city and one of Wisconsin's leading sportsman and conservationist, passed away at Trinity Hospital in Ashland about 11 o'clock Friday night. Mr. Hodsdon had been in poor health for six months. Mr. Hodsdon was born at Minneapolis on September 27, 1864 and came to Mellen in 1889 as a telegraph lineman for the Wisconsin Central Railroad, now the Soo Line, which position he held until his retirement in November, 1929. He was married to Elizabeth Arbeiter in Mellen on February 26, 1896. The Hodsdons observed their 54 wedding anniversary in February of this year. "Hod", as he was affectionately known to his friends, practiced conservation of our game and fish all his life. An ardent hunter and fisherman himself, he had the foresite to know that without good conservation, good hunting and fishing would someday pass out of existance. he helped organize and was one of the charter members of the Mellen Rod & Gun club, which is now 51 years old. He was president of that organization for over 25 years and was elected honorary president for life three years ago. Mr. Hodsdon was instrumental in securing legislative action in a uniformed supervised method of planting fish in Wisconsin waters. Previous to that it was a hit-and-miss proposition. Many times the conservation department consulted him on matters of conservation and he was one of the representatives from this county to the Game Congress on several occasions. His love of the outdoor-hunting and fishing-kept him active, in spite of his advanced years, and it was only last fall that he had to discontinue the sports he loved so well. His long daily walks "in between seasons" kept him in good physical condition, in spite of a heart ailment. Mr. Hodsdon was highly respected by all his fellowmen and looked up to as a good citizen. Through his great interest in conservation and good citizenship he has carved a niche in our city's history which will remain as a lasting memorial to his memory. The deceased was a member and Past Master of Mellen Lodge No. 314, F. & A. M. and a member of the Eau Claire. Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Frances, (mrs. M. J. Channer) Oelwein, Iowa, and Edna (Mrs. Walter Blume,) Phillips, and four sons, Earl, Mellen; george, Stevens, Point; Robert, Eau Claire, and Walter Albany, Oregon, twelve grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Henry Ebert, Minneapolis. The body lay in state at the Bruns Funeral Home until 10 o'clock Monday morning and was taken to the Union Congregational church where it lay instate until the time of the funeral at 2 o'clock. Rev. O. R. Thome had charge of the services while a quartette composed of Robert Hitchcock, Erling Tover, Howard Meredith and Harley Samuelson, accompanied by Alvin Christie on the piano, sang two numbers. Masonic rites were held at the graveside in the Mellen Union Cemetery.